ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
JoAnne Mayer, left, and Kathy Leonardson, members of the steering committee on the Marblehead League of Women Voters, are modernizing the old Marblehead Town Meeting guide in an effort to stimulate interest in younger people for attending Town Meeting.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
MARBLEHEAD — The Marblehead League of Women Voters is taking action to encourage residents to participate in town meetings.
The league is holding an event at The Landing Restaurant, 81 Front St., to raise money to publish a how-to guide to town meetings and help more residents become involved in the process.
“We found that, at the last Town Meeting, we had trouble getting a quorum,” said JoAnne Mayer of the Marblehead League of Women Voters. “If people in town were more educated about Town Meeting, knew about it and (about) the importance of it, mainly, that we’d have better attendance.”
“By talking about it I think people will start realizing it’s a unique (opportunity) to do something special and it gives us a voice in our local government,” said Kathy Leonardson of the Marblehead League of Women Voters.
“Everything important has to go before Town Meeting to be approved,” Leonardson said.
Mayer came across an older copy of the guide, which was likely printed in the 1970s, and brought the idea forward to update it, Leonardson said.
The book was brought to town council, the town administrator and several other town officials to ensure it conforms to updated regulations, Mayer said.
“It is specific to our Town Meeting,” she said. “It (explains) the fundamental laws of the town meetings.”
“We’re redoing it, updating it and will make it accessible to anybody in town who wants one,” Leonardson said.
The short guide explains what constitutes a quorum; who takes part in it; the responsibilities of officials including the town moderator, town clerk and finance committee; information on the motions that can be made; the order of precedence; background information on voting; and how to address the meeting if you have something to say, she said.
The league hopes that by providing residents with the knowledge they need to participate, more will attend the meetings, she said.
“Town Meeting requires a 300-person quorum,” Leonardson said. “300 people have to be at Town Meeting for it to be called to order.”
“We want to get people to Town Meeting and get people enthusiastic about it,” Mayer said. “I like to think that people think that because the town is so well-run that people think they don’t need to be involved. The mission of the league is to educate and inform voters.”
The fundraising event will be Tuesday, Feb. 23 starting at 5:30 p.m. The Landing Restaurant will donate 20 percent of all food and drink proceeds from the event to the project.
“In February, their Tuesday evenings are open to nonprofits,” Leonardson said. “It’s really nice because we can have dinner from their menu and we can also raise some funds towards our work.”
A presentation will be given at 7 p.m., which will feature speakers Town Moderator Gary Spiess and Marblehead Town Historian Don Doliber. Both speakers have extensive Town Meeting experience, Leonardson said.
“I’m sure they have some good stories that go along with Town Meeting and the history of Town Meeting in New England, which is an interesting story in itself,” she said.
Time permitting, those in attendance will have the opportunity to share their own experiences, she said.
Those who wish to attend can make reservations by calling The Landing Restaurant at 781-631-4416.
Once production is complete, the Town Meeting Guide will be made available at Abbot Hall and will also be handed out prior to Town Meeting in May.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.